Modification of a diagram for business process optimization

ABSTRACT

System and method for displaying information regarding a business process. A diagram of the business process may be displayed on a display. The diagram may include a plurality of icons connected by lines, where each of the icons represents a respective step in the business process and the lines indicate flow paths between the steps. Historical data regarding the business process may be received. The historical data may be analyzed to determine information regarding steps and/or flow paths in the business process. Graphical indications associated with one or more icons and/or lines in the diagram may be displayed. The graphical indications may visually indicate characteristics of corresponding steps and/or flow paths in the business process. For example, the graphical indications may indicate lengths of time, costs, or other characteristics associated with various ones of the steps. The graphical indications may indicate path traversals of ones of the flow paths.

PRIORITY

This application claims benefit of priority of U.S. provisionalapplication Ser. No. 60/866,737 titled “Business Process DiagramVisualization Using Heat Maps” filed Nov. 21, 2006, whose inventors werePhil G. Gilbert, Damion A. Heredia, Michael N. Nonemacher, Morten H.Moeller, Graham C. Sanderson, Adam B. Cotner, Petko Chobantonov,Alexander J. Moffat, and Matthew A. Howitt, which is hereby incorporatedby reference in its entirety as though fully and completely set forthherein.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates generally to a business process management systemand, more specifically, to visualizing characteristics of a businessprocess represented by a process diagram.

DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART

Management teams face an increasingly complex and challenging businessenvironment. For example, a typical business may consist of multiplelocations, business streams and informational structures. In addition, abusiness often must handle fluidity in market conditions and changes inaccounting requirements. Business performance may involve such aspectsas supply chain management, financial compliance, customer service,plant maintenance and other processes. Each of these performance aspectscan benefit from operational improvement, or process optimization.

Business process management (BPM) systems have become essential to themanagement of complex businesses in today's economy. However, currentBPM tools do not provide adequate visualization capabilities to enablethe user to fully understand the process being performed. Therefore,improved visualization capabilities are needed in BPM software.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Various embodiments are disclosed of a system and method for displayinginformation regarding a business process. The information may bedisplayed in a diagram of the business process.

The method may comprise storing historical data regarding the businessprocess. The historical data may be collected during prior executions ofthe diagram, i.e., during prior executions of the business process.Various methods may be utilized to collect appropriate data during theseprior executions.

A diagram of the business process may be displayed on a display. Thediagram comprises a plurality of icons connected by lines, wherein eachof the icons represents a respective step in the business process, andwherein the lines indicate flow paths between the steps in the businessprocess. The diagram may be executable to implement the businessprocess.

The user may provide input selecting characteristics of the businessprocess that are desired to be analyzed. For example, a graphical userinterface (GUI) may be displayed on the display, and the user mayprovide input to the GUI. For example, the user may select variousscenarios, such as time analysis, path analysis or count analysis.

The method may analyze the historical data to determine information(referred to as “first” information) regarding one or more steps and/orflow paths in the business process. The analysis may comprise averagingand/or totaling various values from the historical data. The analysismay also comprise comparing the characteristics of corresponding stepsand/or flow paths in the business process with a threshold value.

The method may then display graphical indications (also referred to as“heat maps”) associated with a first subset of icons and/or a firstsubset of lines in the diagram in response to the analysis. Thegraphical indications visually indicate characteristics of correspondingsteps and/or flow paths in the business process, and are useable toanalyze the business process. With respect to icons in the diagramrepresenting steps, the graphical indications may visually indicaterelative lengths of time and/or business characteristics of respectiveones of the steps. With respect to lines in the diagram representingflow paths, the graphical indications may visually indicate relativecounts and/or states of processes for a current time.

The graphical indications may comprise color enhancements, wherein adegree of color enhancement indicates a degree of the characteristics.The color enhancement may comprise a first color, such as red, and adegree of shading (e.g., a degree of hue) of the first color mayindicate the degree of the characteristics. Alternatively, an amount ofthe first color indicates the degree of the characteristics. Thegraphical indications may take various forms, e.g., for each respectiveicon and/or line, the color enhancements may be displayed around aperimeter of the respective icon and/or line, may be displayed withinthe respective icon and/or line, etc.

Embodiments of the invention may also comprise comparing different datasets and displaying graphical indications in the diagram that indicatethe differences. For example, the method may compare the historical dataand other second data to determine differences in characteristics ofsteps and/or flow paths in the business process between the historicaldata and the second data. The second data may be simulated data or otherhistorical data. Also, where the diagram has been modified to representa modified business process, the second data may relate to the modifiedbusiness process. The method may then display graphical indications inthe diagram associated with icons and/or lines in the diagram inresponse to the comparison. The graphical indications visually indicatethe differences in characteristics of the steps and/or flow paths in thebusiness process between the two sets of data, and are useable toanalyze the business process.

In another embodiment, the user may modify the diagram to modify thebusiness process, and operation of the modified business process may besimulated to generate second information. The first and secondinformation may then be compared to determine differences incharacteristics of steps and/or flow paths in the first business processand the modified business process. Graphical indications may then bedisplayed on the display indicating these differences.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A better understanding of the present invention can be obtained when thefollowing detailed description of the preferred embodiment is consideredin conjunction with the following drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a system operable to execute a business processaccording to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a software architecture of aprogram according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a flow chart illustrating one embodiment of a method fordisplaying information regarding a business process;

FIGS. 3A-3C are flow charts illustrating embodiments of a method fordisplaying information regarding a business process;

FIGS. 4A-4F, 5A-5H, 6A-6C, and 7A-7C are exemplary screen shotsillustrating various embodiments of the method illustrated by FIG. 3;

FIGS. 8 and 8A are flow charts illustrating embodiments of a method fordisplaying information regarding modifications to a business process;

FIGS. 9A and 9B are exemplary screen shots illustrating an embodiment ofthe method illustrated by FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a flow chart illustrating one embodiment of a method fordisplaying information regarding different data sets related to abusiness process;

FIGS. 11A-11D are exemplary screen shots illustrating an embodiment ofthe method illustrated by FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a flow chart illustrating one embodiment of a method fordisplaying information regarding a business process;

FIGS. 13A-13J are exemplary screen shots illustrating an embodiment ofthe method illustrated by FIG. 12;

FIGS. 14 and 14A are flow charts illustrating embodiments of a methodfor guided optimization of a business process; and

FIG. 15A-15G are exemplary screen shots illustrating an embodiment ofthe method illustrated by FIG. 14.

While the invention is susceptible to various modifications andalternative forms, specific embodiments thereof are shown by way ofexample in the drawings and are herein described in detail. It should beunderstood, however, that the drawings and detailed description theretoare not intended to limit the invention to the particular formdisclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover allmodifications, equivalents and alternatives falling within the spiritand scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Terms

The following is a glossary of terms used in the present application:

Memory Medium—Any of various types of memory devices or storage devices.The term “memory medium” is intended to include an installation medium,e.g., a CD-ROM, floppy disks 104, or tape device; a computer systemmemory or random access memory such as DRAM, DDR RAM, SRAM, EDO RAM,Rambus RAM, etc.; or a non-volatile memory such as a magnetic media,e.g., a hard drive, or optical storage. The memory medium may compriseother types of memory as well, or combinations thereof. In addition, thememory medium may be located in a first computer in which the programsare executed, and/or may be located in a second different computer whichconnects to the first computer over a network, such as the Internet. Inthe latter instance, the second computer may provide programinstructions to the first computer for execution. The term “memorymedium” may include two or more memory mediums which may reside indifferent locations, e.g., in different computers that are connectedover a network.

Carrier Medium—a memory medium as described above, as well as a physicaltransmission medium, such as a bus, network, and/or other physicaltransmission medium that conveys signals such as electrical,electromagnetic, or digital signals.

Program or Software Program—the terms “program” or “software program”are intended to have the full breadth of its ordinary meaning, andinclude any type of program instructions, code, script and/or data, orcombinations thereof, that may be stored in a memory medium and executedby a processor. Exemplary software programs include programs written intext-based programming languages, such as C, C++, Pascal, Fortran,Cobol, Java, assembly language, etc.; graphical programs (programswritten in graphical programming languages); assembly language programs;programs that have been compiled to machine language; scripts; and othertypes of executable software. A software program may comprise two ormore software programs that interoperate in some manner.

Graphical User Interface—this term is intended to have the full breadthof its ordinary meaning. The term “Graphical User Interface” is oftenabbreviated to “GUI”. A GUI may comprise only one or more input GUIelements, only one or more output GUI elements, or both input and outputGUI elements. A GUI may comprise a single window having one or more GUIElements, or may comprise a plurality of individual GUI Elements (orindividual windows each having one or more GUI Elements), wherein theindividual GUI Elements or windows may optionally be tiled together.

Graphical User Interface Element—an element of a graphical userinterface, such as for providing input or displaying output.

Computer System—any of various types of computing or processing systems,including a personal computer system (PC), mainframe computer system,workstation, network appliance, Internet appliance, personal digitalassistant (PDA), television system, grid computing system, or otherdevice or combinations of devices. In general, the term “computersystem” can be broadly defined to encompass any device (or combinationof devices) having at least one processor that executes instructionsfrom a memory medium.

Subset—in a set having N elements, the term “subset” comprises anycombination of one or more of the elements, up to and including the fullset of N elements. For example, a subset of a plurality of icons may beany one icon of the plurality of the icons, any combination of one ormore of the icons, or all of the icons in the plurality of icons. Thus,a subset of an entity may refer to any single element of the entity aswell as any portion up to and including the entirety of the entity.

FIG. 1—Exemplary Server/Client System

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary server/client server system operable toimplement the methods described herein. More specifically, as shown,server system 100 may couple to computer systems (e.g., clients) 150 a,150 b, and 150 c (referred to as computer systems 150) via network 125.As shown, the computer systems 150 a, 150 b, and 150 c and the serversystem 100 may include display devices, e.g., for displaying variousgraphical user interfaces (GUIs) such as those described herein. Morespecifically, the display devices may be operable to display GUIs ofprograms or instances executing on the server 100. The GUIs may compriseany of various types of graphical user interfaces, e.g., depending onthe computing platform.

In one embodiment, the server 100 (sometimes referred to as “performanceserver”) may execute business process software (“business processdiagram development environment software” or “development software”) asdescribed herein, and the server 100 may present various GUI displays tovarious ones of the client computers 150. In this embodiment, thevarious client systems 150 may simply execute web browser software.Alternatively, in another embodiment, the client computers may executebusiness process software as described herein, e.g., in a stand-alonenon-web based mode.

The server 100 and/or the computer systems 150 may include at least onememory medium on which one or more computer programs or softwarecomponents according to one embodiment of the present invention may bestored. For example, the memory medium may store one or more programswhich are executable to perform the methods described herein.Additionally, the memory medium may store the development software usedto create and/or execute business process management (BPM) diagrams.Alternatively (or additionally) the memory medium may store variousother types of software for interacting with the diagram. The memorymedium may also store operating system software, as well as othersoftware for operation of the computer system. Various embodimentsfurther include receiving or storing instructions and/or dataimplemented in accordance with the foregoing description upon a carriermedium.

The server 100 may comprise one physical server computer that implementsone or more logical servers. Alternatively, the server 100 may comprisetwo more different physical servers that may be connected together,e.g., over a LAN or WAN.

The network 125 can be any of various types, including a LAN (local areanetwork); a WAN (wide area network), such as the Internet; or anIntranet, among others. The computer systems 150 and the server 100 mayexecute programs in a distributed fashion. For example, one or more ofthe computer systems 150 may execute a first portion of a program (e.g.,a client program, applet, or other executable portion) and server 100may execute a second portion of the program (e.g., a server programwhich hosts the applet or executable portion). As another example, oneor more of the computer systems 150 may display a GUI of a program(e.g., in a browser) which may be mostly executing on the server 100.

FIG. 2—Software Architecture

FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary software architecture that may implementvarious embodiments of the present invention. As shown, the architecturemay include various user interfaces, e.g., authoring environment 210,process portal 220, and process coaches 230. The user interfaces may beexecuted on one or more of the server 100 and the computer systems 150.As also shown, the architecture may include two servers (240), e.g.,process server 250, and performance server 260, and two associateddatabases, e.g., process server repository (DB) 270 and performanceserver repository (DB) 280. One or more of these servers/databases maybe included in the server 100. In other words, the server 100 mayinclude any combination of the servers and/or databases shown in FIG. 2.Alternatively, one or more of the servers and/or databases may beincluded in a computer system other than the server 100, but may beaccessible by the server 100 and/or the computer systems 150, e.g., viathe network 150. Thus, FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary softwarearchitecture for implementing some embodiments of the invention.

Business Process Diagram

Various embodiments of the systems and methods described herein includediagrams which relate to a business process. The following sectionsdescribe embodiments of diagrams which may be used in conjunction withthe methods described herein.

The diagram of the business process (e.g., a business process managementdiagram) includes a plurality of icons, at least a subset of which areconnected by lines (or line icons). Each of the icons may represent arespective step in the business process, and each of the lines mayindicate flow paths between steps in the business process. Thus, thediagram may visually represent or model the business process. Thediagram may be referred to as a business process diagram, a BPM diagram,a process diagram, or simply as a “diagram”, as desired.

In some embodiments, the diagram may include a plurality of lanes whichcorrespond to different entities performing the various steps. The lanesmay comprise horizontal sections within the diagram, or vertical lanesin a “top to bottom” diagram. FIG. 4A illustrates a diagram havinglanes, e.g., the Vendor, System, Planner, and Manager horizontal lanes.Thus, the icons in the diagram may be placed in different lanescorresponding to different performers. For example, as noted above, thediagram may have a “manager” lane which means that steps displayed inthe “manager” lane (displayed as icons) may be performed by the manager.Thus, the diagram may include lanes which indicate how or by what entityvarious steps in the process are performed.

In some embodiments, the diagram may be an executable diagram, i.e., thediagram may be executable to perform the business process that thediagram represents. More specifically, the memory medium may storevarious data structures and/or program instructions that specify thediagram that is displayed on the display. These data structures and/orprogram instructions may be interpretable by run-time software toimplement the business process visually represented by the diagram. Forexample, in one embodiment, the user may be able to invoke execution ofthe diagram, e.g., by pressing a “run” or “execute” button (amongothers). This invocation causes the run-time software to execute,whereby the run-time software interprets the data structures and/orprogram instructions to perform the business process, wherein thebusiness process is performed as represented by the diagram. Thus, thediagram visually indicates or specifies the business process beingperformed. Thus, upon invocation or execution the computer may performthe steps and paths visually indicated by the diagram. In anotherembodiment, the data structures and/or program instructions that specifythe diagram may be compiled into an executable program for execution.References in the present specification to “the diagram executing astep” refer to the execution methods described above, wherein datastructures and/or program instructions are interpreted (or compiled andexecuted) to implement the business process shown in the diagram.

In one embodiment, the diagram may be displayed in response to userinput, e.g., on a display of one or more of the server 100 and/or thecomputer systems 150 (among others). Additionally, the diagram may bedisplayed in a process diagram development environment. For example, theuser may open an already existing diagram to be displayed on the displayof a computer system. Alternatively, or additionally, the user maymanually assemble the diagram using various palettes or tools. Also, thediagram may be assembled at least in part using various diagram creationwizards. In one embodiment, the diagram may be modified, created, and/orexecuted within the business process diagram development environment.The business process development environment may be executable by one ormore of the computer systems described above among others. Morespecifically, the development environment may be executed on the server100 and various sub-processes (e.g., child processes, GUIs, applets,etc.) may be executed on one or more of the computer systems 150.

In one embodiment, to create or modify the diagram, the user may “drop”icons from a palette (e.g., included in the business process developmentenvironment) which may represent steps of the process. In other wordsthe user may click on an object in the palette (e.g., using a mouse),drag the object over to a particular location in the diagram, andrelease the object onto the diagram (e.g., by releasing the mouseclick). The development environment may determine the type of step thatis selected by the user and automatically assign the particular icon toone or more of the lanes in the diagram as appropriate. Thus, in someembodiments, the development environment may intelligently assist theuser during creation or modification of the diagram. In someembodiments, the palette may include a plurality of different icons fora variety of different steps. More specifically, the palette may includetemplate icons, e.g., which implement various common steps (e.g.,provided by the diagram development software) or user-defined steps(e.g., previously created or modified steps saved by the user).

While placing icons representing steps of the process in the diagram,the user may also connect those icons using a line or connecting tool.For example, the user may select a connecting tool and “draw” a linebetween an output of one icon and an input of another.

Note that the above described tools and palettes are exemplary only, andthat other tools and palettes (among other graphical interfaces) areenvisioned. For example, in one embodiment, the user may not dragobjects from palettes and/or use tools to connect the objects, but mayinstead draw the objects on the diagram, interact with the diagram (oranother textual interface that corresponds to the diagram) using akeyboard, among other methods. Thus, the user may assemble objects inthe diagram via a variety of methods.

Additionally, the user may be able to assign actions associated with thesteps of the process (e.g., represented by the icons in the diagram)and/or with the flow paths (e.g., represented by the lines in thediagram). For example, the user may associate one or more processes,GUIs, and/or programs (e.g., which implement the steps of the process)with one or more of the icons and/or lines in the diagram. Thus, theassociated processes may perform a portion of the business processvisually indicated by the diagram, e.g., during execution of thediagram. In some embodiments, the processes/GUI may include an appletthat may be presented to a client machine over a wide area network suchas, for example, the Internet. Thus, during execution, the processes/GUIassociated with each of the icons (steps) and/or lines (flow paths) inthe diagram may be invoked upon reaching each respective step or path.Thus, in some embodiments, the diagram may be assembled by the user anddisplayed on the display of a computer system (e.g., a local or remotecomputer system such as those described above among others).

As one example, the diagram may describe or visually indicate a businessprocess for processing purchase orders. One step in the process mayinclude generation of a purchase order; thus once the diagram isexecuted, the diagram (or a program executed by the diagram) maygenerate the purchase order. Alternatively, the diagram may invoke a GUIon a computer where a user may manually generate a purchase order asdesired. Thus, in one embodiment, the diagram may be displayed and/orexecuted on a first computer, e.g., the server 100 described above, andmay be operable to invoke other processes, programs, and/or GUIs onother computers, e.g., client computer systems 150.

Upon completion of generation of the purchase order, the diagram mayexecute another step in the process. For example, the diagram mayinclude a first icon representing generation of the purchase order whichmay be connected by a line (e.g., a flow path) to another icon which mayrepresent a step for populating data in the purchase order. Thus, duringexecution of the diagram, after completion of a step, the diagram mayexecute a next step in the process as indicated by the diagram.Correspondingly, upon completion of generation of the purchase order,the purchase order may be populated with data by executing the processor step indicated in the diagram (i.e., the one connected to thegeneration step). In some embodiments, the populating icon/step may havean associated process which performs a plurality of actions to populatethe generated purchase order. For example, during execution of thediagram, upon reaching the populating icon, the associated process mayretrieve various information from a database on a computer system andautomatically populate the purchase order, e.g., as specified by theuser during creation of the diagram.

After generating the purchase order and/or populating the data, amanager approval step may be executed as indicated in the diagram. Morespecifically, the diagram may include a manager approval icon which maybe connected via a line (e.g., flow path) to the icon representingpurchase order generation and/or data population of the purchase order.Thus, control may pass from the purchase order generation step to datapopulation of the purchase order step to a manager approval step. Duringexecution of the diagram, upon reaching the icon representing themanager approval step, a process, GUI, and/or program (among others) maybe executed which operates to request approval from the manager. In someembodiments, this may involve generating and sending an email to amanager in the company. Alternatively, or additionally a GUI (e.g., anapplet, such as for example, a Java™ applet, among others) may beremotely executed on the manager's computer system (e.g., one of thecomputer systems 150). Thus, upon reaching the manager approval iconduring execution of the diagram, various processes may be invoked to getthe manager's approval. Note that during execution, highlighting (orother indications) of the icons or lines in the diagram may be used toindicate the current state of the diagram. Thus, during execution, theicons and paths may be highlighted to indicate flow of control throughthe diagram.

In some embodiments, more than one step may be connected to other stepsand conditions may be imposed on the paths between the steps, e.g., asspecified by the user. For example, where a step connects to two othersteps, control or execution may flow according to conditions of the flowlines or the flow objects (e.g., icons/steps) in the diagram. Forexample, in the examples described above, the diagram may have an iconrepresenting generation of a purchase order which may connect to iconsrepresenting manager approval and purchase order data population. Thus,as one example, when the purchase order is generated, a condition may beassociated with the icons or paths in the diagram such that executionflows from purchase order generation to data population if the purchaseorder is incomplete or needs more data. Alternatively, execution mayflow from purchase order generation to manager approval if the purchaseorder is complete or does not require further data. Thus, execution ofthe diagram may execute according to conditions, e.g., specified by theuser during creation/modification of the diagram. Further exemplarydiagrams and processes are presented and described below.

FIG. 3—Method for Displaying Information Regarding a Business Process

FIG. 3 illustrates a method for displaying information regarding abusiness process. The method shown in FIG. 3 may be used in conjunctionwith any of the computer systems or devices shown in the above Figures,among other devices. In various embodiments, some of the method elementsshown may be performed concurrently, in a different order than shown, ormay be omitted. Additional method elements may also be performed asdesired. As shown, this method may operate as follows.

In 302, historical data regarding a business process may be storedand/or received. In some embodiments, the historical data may be storedin a database and may represent executions of the process in a timeperiod or range. The historical data may be stored during execution of abusiness process diagram (e.g., which represents the business process)over this time. In some embodiments, storing the information may involvedetermining path traversal information of the process. For example, foran individual step in the process, storing the information may includestoring pertinent waiting time information (how long this step has waitsbefore execution), execution time information (how much time this steptakes to execute), business cost data (monetary or otherwise), previousstep information (what the previous step was), future step information(the next step for each of the processes), and/or other information(further characteristics and analyses are described below). In processeswhere a step can be reached via a plurality of paths, storing theinformation may include inferring the previous steps from knowninformation. This calculation or inference may then be stored in ashistorical data.

More specifically, process data (such as that described above) may becaptured in a variety of places. In one embodiment, the data may becaptured when “activity created” events occur. An “activity created”event may include the ID of the particular process instance (e.g., whereeach process instance represents an individual process executing on thediagram), the ID of the activity, the ID of the activity instance, andany business data that is associated with the diagram. Additionally, thedate and time that the activity was created may be stored. In someembodiments (e.g., multi-server environments), it may be necessary tostore a sequence of events associated with the process instance (e.g.,when the clocks of the servers are not matched properly). In otherwords, it may be necessary to store an auto-incremented number(“sequence ID”) where time stamps do not provide an adequate indicationof order. The created activity is associated with some resource: asystem, a specific user, or a group; correspondingly, this informationmay also be stored.

When a resource is available and actually starts executing the activity,the method may track an “activity started” event. Similar to the“activity created” event, this event includes the process instance ID,the activity ID, the activity instance ID, any associated business data,and a timestamp and sequence ID, but also tracks the ID of the specificresource that is executing the activity. (This may be different than theID of the resource that was originally assigned, e.g., if it wasassigned to any of a group of people, and one specific person hasstarted executing the activity.)

When the activity is complete, storing the historical data may store an“activity completed” event. This event includes the same pieces of dataas the “activity created” event: process instance ID, activity ID,activity instance ID, business data, timestamp, and sequence ID.Additionally, when a path is traversed in the process, storing thehistorical data may store a “flow traversal” event, which may includethe process instance ID, the ID of the flow path, and a timestamp (andpossibly a sequence ID), among others.

Storing the historical data may include calculating some meta data. Forexample, the wait time of a process step may be determined bycalculating the length of time between the “activity created” event andthe “activity started” event. The execution time may be determined bycalculating the length of time between the “activity started” event andthe “activity completed” event. Thus, storing the historical data mayinvolve storing activity information and calculating information fromthat stored information. However, it should be noted that the abovedescriptions are exemplary only, and other methods for storing thehistorical data may be used. For example, the historical data may beretrieved from sources (e.g., databases) associated with the process.For example, the historical data may be retrieved by mining informationsources of a company that implements/desires to analyze and/or optimizethe process represented by the diagram. However, in primary embodiments,the data may have been collected over time using the executable diagramrepresenting the business process.

As indicated above, the historical data may include informationregarding lengths of time (e.g., associated with each of the steps inthe process), path traversals (e.g., the specific path that was takenthroughout the process), values (count information) of attributes of thesteps/paths taken during the process (e.g., waiting/executionactivities, number of times path was taken, etc.), business data (e.g.,costs associated with each step), and/or other information. For example,the historical data may include the amount of time spent waiting forexecution and the amount of time executing for each step. Morespecifically, following the manager approval step described above, thehistorical information may include the wait time (how long it took forthe manager to get to the purchase order to be approved) and theexecution time (how long it took the manager to approve or reject thepurchase order). Additionally, the historical data may store themonetary and/or human resources associated with various steps/paths inthe process. Note that the above-described information is exemplaryonly, and other attributes/characteristics may be stored. In otherwords, the historical data may include information regarding anyinformation that may be usable to analyze and/or optimize the processmodeled by the diagram. Note further that the descriptions hereinregarding historical data may apply equally well to other data regardingthe business process (e.g., simulated data).

In 304, the diagram of the business process (e.g., a business process)may be displayed, e.g., on one or more of the computer systems 150 orthe server system 100 described above (among others), e.g., in responseto user input. As described above, the diagram may include a pluralityof icons (e.g., representing steps of the process) that areinterconnected by lines (e.g., representing flow paths of the process).As also described above, the diagram may be executable; in other words,the diagram may operate to implement the process visually indicated bythe diagram during execution of the diagram. In some embodiments, theuser may invoke execution of the diagram by pressing an “execute” or“play” button in the process development environment that may displaythe diagram. During execution, processes, GUIs, and/or applets (amongothers) may be invoked as execution flows through each of the icons andlines in the diagram. In other words, upon reaching a specific icon orline during execution of the diagram, processes associated with the iconor line may be executed, e.g., as designed by the user. In someembodiments, these processes may be executed locally or remotely (e.g.,on a computer coupled through a network such as the network 125described above, among others). The diagram may include lanes whichindicate performers of the steps of the process. For example, thediagram may include a lane for a computer system such as, for example,the server 100. Correspondingly, the server 100 may perform the stepsassociated with icons placed in this lane during execution of thediagram.

In 305, user input may be received that specifies characteristics of thehistorical data that he/she desires to be visually represented on thediagram. For example, the user may select a category of data toretrieve, a time period for the data, and/or various other filters forthe retrieved data (e.g., orders more than 40,000 dollars, orders thattook longer than one week to process, orders for particular clients,etc.). In one embodiment, the user may select this information using aGUI and a query may be automatically generated in response to the userselections. Subsequently, the query may executed to retrieve historicaldata (e.g., from a database) according to the constraints specified bythe user. The screen shots of FIGS. 4A-F, 5A-H, 6A-C, and 7A-7Cillustrate specific examples of this process.

In 306, the historical data may be analyzed to determine informationregarding one or more steps and/or flow paths in the business process.For example, the user may select a “recalculate” button on the display,which causes the analysis to be performed. In some embodiments,analyzing the historical data may involve retrieving information, e.g.,a subset of the historical data. Additionally, the historical data maybe analyzed based on the characteristics specified by the user in 305.For example, where the user input in 305 specifies “average wait time”as the desired characteristic to be analyzed, the analysis may includeaveraging each of the lengths of times associated with, for example,wait time for each of the steps in the process. Depending on the userinput in 305, the analysis may average (or median, mode, total, etc.)other values such as the business cost associated with each step, numberof times a particular path was traversed, and/or other values. In someembodiments, the analysis may include more complex calculations, e.g.,by inferring information based on the historical data. The analysis mayalso include calculating time intervals of data. Thus, the historicaldata may be analyzed to determine information regarding characteristics,behaviors, and/or performance (among others) of steps and/or flow pathsof the business process represented by the diagram.

In 308, graphical indications associated with icons and/or lines in thediagram may be displayed, e.g., on the display of one or more of thecomputer systems described above, among others. The graphicalindications may visually indicate characteristics (and preferably adegree of the characteristics) of corresponding steps and/or flow pathsin the business process and may be useable to analyze the businessprocess. The characteristics may have been chosen by the user in 305above. Alternatively, the characteristics may be automatically chosenand visually indicated without prior user input specifying thecharacteristics. In some embodiments, as noted above, the graphicalindications may indicate relative degree of the characteristics. Forexample, the graphical indications may be displayed as a “heat map” onthe diagram. A heat map may visually indicate which of the steps and/orpaths in the process are most important (or least efficient), e.g.,according to the characteristics being visually indicated. In someembodiments, the heat map may correspond to the color enhancementsdescribed in more detail below.

In one embodiment, the graphical indications may include colorenhancements for various ones of the flow lines and/or the iconsincluded in the diagram. The degree of color enhancement may indicatethe degree of the characteristics. For example, the color enhancementsmay include a first color (e.g., red), and the degree of shading of thefirst color (e.g., degree of shading of the hue of the first color) mayindicate the degree of the characteristics. In one embodiment, theamount of the first color (e.g., the number of pixels of the color or“thickness” of the color) may indicate the degree of thecharacteristics. The color enhancements may be displayed around aperimeter of icons and/or lines in the diagram, within icons/lines ofthe diagram, or other suitable manners that visually indicate the degreeof the characteristics.

In the preferred embodiment, the color enhancements may include a firstcolor, such as, for example, red, and the graphical indications mayinclude degrees of shading around the perimeter of the icons and/orlines in the diagram. Thus, in one embodiment, the amount of red shadingaround the icon and/or line may indicate the degree of thecharacteristic(s) under scrutiny.

Note that the graphical indications described above are exemplary only.For example, in one embodiment, the graphical indications may includeanimations on the screen, e.g., where visually indicated icons and/orlines are highlighted using “marching ants” (e.g., where dotted linesmove around the object being highlighted). In another embodiment, theicons and/or lines themselves may be re-sized (either in 1 or 2dimensions) to indicate the relative characteristics, e.g., icons with alesser degree of the characteristic (e.g., smaller average wait time)may be reduced in size on the diagram, and icons with a greater degreeof the characteristic (e.g., larger average wait time) may be increasedin size on the diagram. As another example, the borders of the icons maybe enlarged or reduced to indicate the degree of the characteristic. Asyet another example, “degree icons” may be displayed within each of theicons (like bars of a bar graph), that represent the degree of thecharacteristic. In other words, the term “graphical indication” isintended to include any manner (other than text) of emphasizing iconsand/or lines in the diagram to indicate characteristics and/or degree ofcharacteristics of objects (steps and/or flow paths) in the diagram. Inaddition to graphical indications, in 308 the method may also displaytextual indications about the degree of characteristics for icons/linesin the diagram.

In one embodiment, the graphical indications may only be relative to theother steps and/or flow paths represented in the diagram. Thus, thegraphical indications may visually indicate which icon and/or flow pathrepresents the most of a particular characteristic, e.g., by using thedegree of color described above, among others. More specifically, thegraphical indications may visually indicate degree of characteristicsusing various techniques such as the color methods described above aswell as shading techniques (e.g., where more of a characteristic hasmore shading, possibly around the icon and/or line). Thus, the graphicalindications may visually indicate a relative amount of characteristicfor individual steps and/or flow paths with respect to the other stepsand/or flow paths in the process. Thus, the graphical indications may beindicated relative to other steps and/or flow paths in the businessprocess. More specific examples are provided below.

Alternatively, the graphical indications may be displayed according tothresholds. For example, the graphical indications may indicate whichsteps and/or flows exceed and/or fall below the specified thresholds.The thresholds may be determined automatically or assigned by the useras desired. In some embodiments, the indications above or below thethreshold(s) may not be a simple binary representation, but may indicatea degree to which the respective steps and/or flows exceed and/or fallbelow the specified thresholds. For example, in one embodiment, thegraphical indications may include red shading around icons and/or lineswhich have values exceeding the threshold and blue (or possibly no)shading around icons and/or lines which have values that fall below thethreshold. The degree to which these values exceed or fall below thethreshold may be indicated by a degree of color/shading (e.g., using agradient of the color(s)) of the icons and/or lines. Thus, graphicalindications may be indicated relative to thresholds, e.g., specified bythe user, rather than relative to other steps and/or flows in theprocess. In some embodiments, however, the graphical indications may bedisplayed according to threshold(s) and comparisons to various ones ofthe steps and/or flows in the process.

Note that, in some embodiments, the indication of the degree ofcharacteristics (and/or deviation from the threshold) may be acontinuous gradient (where every different value has a differentassociated amount of indication) or a discrete gradient (where valuesare grouped according to discrete sections, e.g., 0-10% deviation,10%-20%, etc.). Thus, the graphical indications may be displayed on thediagram via a variety of methods. Note that the graphical indicationsdescribed herein are exemplary only and that other graphical indicationsand methods for indicating characteristics of the steps and/or flowpaths are envisioned.

In some embodiments, the characteristics may include relative lengths oftime for respective ones of the steps of the business process. Thus, thegraphical indications may indicate which of the steps on the diagramtook the longest respective amounts of times. In other words, thegraphical indications may indicate a ranking according to thecharacteristics for each of the steps and/or flow paths. Thus, the usermay easily discover which of the steps take the longest amount of time.Alternatively, or additionally, the graphical indications may indicatewhich of the steps/flow paths exceed or fall below a threshold, andpossibly to what extent the steps/flow paths exceed or fall below thethreshold. Following the embodiments from above, the graphicalindications may be indicated in the diagram by shading the perimeter ofvarious icons, e.g., with more red for the longer (or more excessive ofthe threshold) the amount of time. The graphical indications may alsoinclude using more, for example, gradients of blue for the shorter (orfarther below the threshold) the amount of time. Thus, the user mayintuitively understand that steps with the most red shading take thelongest amount of time, and those with little or no (or possibly blue)shading take a relatively shorter amount of time (e.g., as compared toone another or a threshold).

In some embodiments, the characteristics may include businesscharacteristics. For example, the characteristics may include monetarycosts associated with various paths and/or steps of the businessprocess. Thus, in one embodiment, the graphical indications may indicatesteps or flow paths that cost the most amount of money, thereby allowingthe user to easily view and understand steps or paths that should beoptimized. Alternatively, the business characteristics may include humanresource costs, e.g., which paths or steps require the most humanresources for completion. Note that the above described businesscharacteristics are exemplary only and other characteristics areenvisioned.

Additionally, or alternatively, the characteristics may include pathtraversal information, e.g., percentages associated with the pathstraversed in the process. The user may, for example, be able to view a“happy path” and/or percentages associated therewith. For example, inone embodiment, the “happy path” may indicate the ideal path of theprocess. In some embodiments, the user may be able to select an“exception path” which may be assigned by the user (e.g., during designof the process) or may be defined as those paths which deviate from theideal or “happy path”. In some embodiments, the graphical indicationsmay indicate the most likely path for the entire process or betweengroups of icons in the diagram. Thus, the graphical indications mayindicate information regarding traversed paths and attributes thereof(e.g., a percentage of time any particular path is traversed).

In some embodiments, the characteristics may include count information.Graphical indications of count information may indicate variousattributes/activities of the steps and/or paths in the business processon the diagram. More specifically, in one embodiment, the countinformation may include values associated with execution activities,wait activities, and completion activities associated with one or moreof the steps or flow paths. More specifically, the count analysis mayrelate to the amount of processes that are waiting, executing, orcompleted at any given time. Thus, the user may specify a count analysisat a given time and the graphical indications may indicate processeswith counts over various thresholds (or have larger or smaller amountsof various counts with respect to other steps in the process).

Note that after the visual indications are displayed, in someembodiments, the user may be operable to change various attributes ofthe diagram (e.g., what characteristics are being displayed). Forexample, in one embodiment, the method may further include receivinguser input modifying desired analyses, characteristics, thresholds, etc.Thus, the user may be operable to change the thresholds of the graphicalindications, and corresponding new graphical indications may bedisplayed on the diagram. Thus, the user may change properties of thegraphical indications and the graphical indications may be displayed onthe diagram in response to the user input.

Thus, FIG. 3 illustrates a method for displaying information regarding abusiness process. Exemplary screen shots of a specific embodiment ofthis method are described below.

FIGS. 3A-3C—Method for Displaying Information Regarding a BusinessProcess

FIGS. 3A-3C are flow charts of an exemplary method for displayinginformation regarding a business process similar to FIG. 3 above. Morespecifically, FIG. 3A relates to selecting/creating a scenario; FIG. 3Brelates to selecting an analysis; and FIG. 3C relates to calculating theanalysis (for graphically indicating the selections made by the user).Note that FIGS. 3A-3C provide specific embodiments of the method only;in other words, the methods of described herein are not limited to anyof the specific elements or descriptions provided in FIGS. 3A-3C.Similar to above, the method shown in FIGS. 3A-3C may be used inconjunction with any of the systems or methods shown or describedherein. For example, the methods of FIGS. 3A-3C may apply to FIG. 3above as well as FIGS. 8-12 described below. In various embodiments,some of the method elements shown may be performed concurrently, in adifferent order than shown, or may be omitted.

FIGS. 4A-4F, 5A-5H, 6A-6C and 7A-7C—Exemplary Screen Shots

FIGS. 4A-4F, 5A-5H, 6A-6C, and 7A-7C are exemplary screen shots of themethod illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 3A-3C. More specifically, FIGS. 4A-4Fare a series of exemplary screen shots which show how a user may specifyretrieval of information that may be analyzed and displayed. FIGS. 5A-5Hare a series of exemplary screen shots showing length of time analysisof a business process. FIGS. 6A-6C are a series of exemplary screenshots showing path analysis of a business process. FIGS. 7A-7C areexemplary screen shots illustrating count analysis of a businessprocess. Note that these analyses (and the specific screen shotsillustrated) are exemplary only and other analyses are envisioned. Forexample, in one embodiment, the method may analyze the information andvisually indicate costs associated with steps (e.g., monetary costs),e.g., using the graphical indications (or “heat maps”) described herein.

As indicated above, FIGS. 4A-4F are a series of exemplary screen shotswhich show how a user may specify retrieval of information that may beanalyzed and displayed.

As shown in FIG. 4A, the graphical user interface (GUI) includes adiagram display on the right hand side of the figure. On the left handside, FIG. 4A includes a GUI for enabling the user to configureinformation for specifying analysis to be performed. The information maytake the form of a scenario as shown in FIG. 4A. Additionally, as shown,the GUI may include various fields including a mode field, a selectscenario field, an analysis type, and a threshold (e.g., a minimum andmaximum threshold). As shown in FIG. 4A, when the user selects the“select” button under “selected scenarios” on the left hand side of thediagram, the screen shot of FIG. 4B appears.

As shown in FIG. 4B, the GUI on the right side includes various businessprocess analysis scenarios that may be selected by the user. As shown,in the scenarios portion of the GUI, the users can select historical(tracked data) corresponding to various vendors and/or time periods. Forexample, the user may select the historical data corresponding to“vendor: Acme”. As shown, when the user selects the vendor Acme underthe historical data portion of the GUI, the name “vendor: Acme” appearsin the historical scenario field on the right hand side of the diagram.The user may then select a time period filter and/or a business datafilter as desired.

As shown in FIG. 4C, the user has selected the historical datacorresponding to “vendor: Acme”, and thus the name vendor: Acme appearson the historical scenario field.

As shown in FIG. 4D, the user selects the business filter data portionof the GUI and, various options may appear, for example, the options maycomprise “auto-tracked options” which may include customer, materialdescription, price, etc.

As shown in FIG. 4E, when the user selects the time period filterportion of the GUI, various time ranges may appear such as allavailable, last year, current year, last quarter, and current quarter.As also shown in FIG. 4E, in response to the vendor selection in thebusiness data filter GUI in FIG. 4D, the vendor filter is set to equal“Acme”.

As shown in FIG. 4F, the user may select the analysis from a drop downmenu in the GUI on the left side of the Figure. As shown, the user mayselect from Simulation vs. Historical (What if), Simulation vs.Simulation, Single Historical, Single In-Flight, and Single Simulation.In this example, the user has selected “Single Historical”.

As indicated above, FIGS. 5A-5H are a series of exemplary screen shotsshowing length of time analysis of a business process. FIGS. 5A-5H mayfollow from FIGS. 4A-4F described above.

As shown in FIG. 5A, the user has selected “time analysis” for theanalysis type portion of the GUI on the left hand side of the screenshot. The GUI illustrates various possible analysis types which mayinclude count analysis, path analysis, or time analysis.

As shown in FIG. 5B, when the user selects time analysis as the analysistype, various time specific entries appear such as average wait time,total wait time, average execution time, and total execution time. Asshown, in FIG. 5B the user has selected average wait time in this field.

In the screen shot of FIG. 5C, the user is selecting a threshold value.In this case the user has specified a minimum threshold of “0 hours” anda maximum threshold of “10 hours”.

In the screen shot of FIG. 5D, the user selects the recalculate buttonwith his/her mouse, thus causing graphical indications (e.g., colorenhancements) to be displayed with respect to icons and/or lines in thebusiness process diagram. As shown in FIG. 5D, the graphical indicationsmay take the form of “heat maps” including color enhancements displayedaround the perimeter of icons in the diagram that indicate informationregarding the time analysis performed. Thus, in FIG. 5D when user theuser selects the recalculate button, the software program (e.g., theprocess development environment) performs time analysis of the varioussteps (associated with icons in the diagram) to determine the averagewait time of each of the steps in the process and then generatesgraphical indications corresponding to respective ones of the icons toindicate the average wait time to the user.

In FIG. 5D, underneath the threshold tab of the left hand side of theGUI, a gradient is displayed from “min” to “max”. As shown, and asspecified in FIG. 5C, the user has selected the “min” threshold as zerohours and the “max” threshold as ten hours. In the preferred embodiment,the GUI uses the color red and more specifically uses a color huegradient of the color red to indicate the degree of average wait time.Thus, a lighter hue of the color red indicates a lower average wait timeand a darker hue of the color red indicates a higher average wait time.Thus, although not presented in the black and white FIG. 5D, underneaththe tab threshold, the “min” begins with a white color, i.e., a verylight hue of the color red and then as the gradient goes from left toright, from “min” to “max”, the hue of the color red becomesincreasingly darker, i.e., from light pink to dark pink, to light red todark red. Thus, from left to right the color is white at the term “min”and is finally dark red at the term “max”. As shown in FIG. 5D, thegraphical indications may appear as shading that appear around theperimeter of each of the respective icons and may indicate the relativeaverage wait time per this hue gradient.

In the diagram shown in FIG. 5D, each of the icons has shading aroundthe perimeter of the icon to indicate the average wait time. The degreeof the hue of the color red in the shading visually indicates to theuser the amount of the average wait time. In other words, as the colorhue shading becomes darker or more red around the respective icon, thisindicates the respective icon has a longer average wait time relative tothose icons which have a lighter hue color shading around its respectiveperimeter. In the exemplary diagram of FIG. 5D, the “select vendor” iconhas a dark red shading around its perimeter indicating a longer averagewait time of 8 hours, forty minutes, the “review RFQ” icon has a lighterhue color shading around its perimeter to indicate a lesser average waitof six hours, forty-one minutes, the “Create RFQ” icon has a very lightpink shading around its perimeter which indicates a much lower averagewait time of one hour, fifty minutes, and the “determine recommendquote” icon has essentially a pure white shading around its perimeter toindicate its average wait time of zero minutes. It is noted that the huegradient or degree of hue color in these shadings, these heat mapsaround the icons, is representative of black and white FIG. 5D as eithera solid black perimeter, a black line outline, a dotted outline, or awhite outline.

When the user selects the recommendations tab at the bottom of FIG. 5D,the screen shot of FIG. 5E appears. As shown in FIG. 5E, therecommendations tab lists textual names of the various icons that appearin the diagram. These textual names are shaded with graphicalindications similar to those that appear with respective to therespective icons in the diagram. Thus, for example, the “managerapproval” text is shaded with the darkest hue of red, the “selectvendor” text is shaded with a somewhat lighter hue of red, the “reviewRFQ” text is shaded with a lighter hue relative to “select vendor”,“create RFQ” text is shaded with a very light “light pink” hue of red,and the “determine recommend quote”, “place order in SAP”, and “responseto quote” text items have no hue color shading at all due to theiraverage wait time of zero minutes. As shown in FIG. 5E, when the userselects the manager approval textual item in the recommendations tab, onthe right hand side of this GUI, text appears which is titled“Investigate bypassing ‘manager approval’”. This text providesinformation related to the manager approval icon and also provides anoption to launch an optimization or bypass wizard (described in moredetail below) which can be used to automatically modify the diagram toimprove the business process and reduce the average wait time caused bythis particular step.

As shown in FIG. 5F, when the user selects the analysis report tab ofthe GUI, the analysis report GUI right hand side of the Figure appearsas shown. This GUI provides information on the data used in theanalysis, e.g., all available historical data, and the start and endtime of the historical data used.

FIGS. 5G and 5H illustrate more fully the analysis report described inFIG. 5F.

Thus, FIGS. 5A-5C illustrate various examples of one embodiment forvisually indicating time analysis information using historical data.

As indicated above, FIGS. 6A-6C are a series of exemplary screen shotsshowing path analysis of a business process.

As shown in FIG. 6A, the user may select path analysis in the GUI in theleft hand side. Similar to descriptions above regarding the timeanalysis, the user may use this analysis to view specific path analysisof the process using historical data.

As shown in FIG. 6B, the user may choose the path analysis sub-field“exception path” in order to view paths that follow the exception path.As also shown, the thresholds are set with a minimum threshold of 0% anda maximum threshold of 40%. In this case, the flow path between“approved?” and “select vendor quote” is highlighted (in this case inred, shown with a black border in the black and white Figure) as havingfollowed the exception path 45% of the time.

As shown, in FIG. 6C, the user has selected the happy path analysis inthe left-hand GUI. Thus, the resulting graphical indications on thediagram highlight the “happy path” (e.g., the ideal path) for theprocess. In this specific case, the “happy path” is highlighted in blue(shown in black in the Figure).

FIGS. 6A-6C illustrate various examples of one embodiment for visuallyindicating path information using historical data.

As indicated above, FIGS. 7A-7C are exemplary screen shots illustratingan exemplary count analysis of a business process.

As shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, the user may select “count analysis” as theanalysis type. Correspondingly, in 7B the options “waiting activities”,“executing activities”, and “completed activities” may appear in thesecond field under “analysis type”. As shown in 7B, the user hasselected “executing activities”.

Finally, in FIG. 7C, the diagram includes both graphical and visualindications corresponding to the selected analysis. Graphically, “selectvendor quote” is highlighted with a light pink color (shown as a blackoutline) graphically indicating the value of 15 for executing activities(in comparison with the minimum threshold of 10 and the maximumthreshold of 20 selected in the GUI on the left side. Further textualindications visually indicate other count information including waitingand completing activities. Thus, FIGS. 7A-7C illustrates one embodimentof a count analysis of a process.

FIG. 8—Displaying Information Regarding Modifications to a BusinessProcess

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of an exemplary method for displaying informationregarding modifications to a business process. The method shown in FIG.8 may be used in conjunction with any of the systems shown in the aboveFigures, among other devices. In various embodiments, some of the methodelements shown may be performed concurrently, in a different order thanshown, or may be omitted. Additional method elements may also beperformed as desired. As shown, this method may operate as follows.

In 802, data regarding a first business process may be stored (e.g., inresponse to user input, similar to descriptions above). The data maycomprise historical data, simulation data, and/or other data associatedwith the first business process. As described above (regarding FIG. 3),the data may be stored in response to executing a diagram whichrepresents the first business process. Alternatively, the data may beretrieved from external sources and stored in a memory medium. The datamay include information regarding lengths of time (e.g., associated witheach of the steps in the process), path traversals (e.g., the specificpath that was taken throughout the process), values (business data) ofattributes of the steps/paths taken during the process (e.g.,waiting/execution activities, number of times path was taken, etc.),count information, and/or other information. As also described above,the data may be received in response to user input. As indicated above,the user may specify constraints such that the data represents only aportion of the data that may be stored, e.g., in a database on a memorymedium coupled to, for example, the server 100. Alternatively, the datamay be received automatically and may not have been constrained by theuser.

In 804, a diagram of the first business process may be displayed on adisplay, e.g., on the displays of one or more of the computer systems150 and/or the server 100. Similar to the above descriptions regardingFIG. 3, the diagram may be displayed in response to user input. Thediagram may include a plurality of icons (e.g., representing steps ofthe process) that are interconnected by lines (e.g., representing flowpaths of the process). As also described above, the diagram may beexecutable; in other words, the diagram may operate to implement theprocess visually indicated by the diagram during execution of thediagram.

In some embodiments, the user may invoke execution of the diagram bypressing an “execute” or “play” button in the process developmentenvironment that may display the diagram. During execution, processes,GUIs, and/or applets (among others) may be invoked as execution flowsthrough each of the icons and lines in the diagram. In other words, uponreaching a specific icon or line during execution of the diagram,processes associated with the icon or line may be executed, e.g., asdesigned by the user. In some embodiments, these processes may beexecuted locally or remotely (e.g., on a computer coupled through anetwork such as the network 125 described above, among others. Thediagram may include lanes which indicate performers of the steps of theprocess. For example, the diagram may include a lane for a computersystem such as, for example, the server 100. Correspondingly, the server100 may perform the steps associated with icons placed in this laneduring execution of the diagram.

In 806, first information regarding one or more steps and/or flow pathsin the first business process may be determined. This determination maybe similar to the analysis described above regarding 305 and 306 of FIG.3. In other words, in 806 the user may specify characteristics to beanalyzed (as in 305), and the data (or a time period thereof) may beanalyzed to determine these specified characteristics. For example, thefirst information regarding (a subset of) steps and/or flow paths of thefirst business process may be determined by analyzing the data stored in802. In some embodiments, similar to above, the first information mayinvolve averaging data or inferring information from, for example, thedata stored in 802, e.g., via calculations. Similar to above,determining the first information may include receiving/storing aportion of the data and analyzing that portion. Thus, the data may beanalyzed to determine the values of the (user specified) characteristicsdescribed above (among others) associated with a subset of the stepsand/or flow paths of the business process (represented by the iconsand/or lines in the diagram).

In 808, user input modifying the diagram may be received. The modifieddiagram may thereby represent a modified business process. In someembodiments, the user may manually modify the diagram, e.g., usingvarious input devices, tools, palettes, or other interfaces (such asthose described above, among others). Thus, the user may add additionalsteps, change interconnections in the diagram, change conditions of thediagram, and/or modify parameters of icons and/or lines in the process,among other changes. Additionally, or alternatively, the user may invokean optimization wizard which may suggest and possibly automaticallymodify the diagram for the user. Further descriptions regarding thisoptimization wizard are described in more detail below. Note that theabove modifications are exemplary only and other modifications (ormethods thereof) are envisioned.

In 810, operation of the modified business process may be simulatedbased on the modified diagram and the data. In some embodiments,simulating the modified business process may include analyzing and/ordetermining probabilities associated with various paths in the process.These probabilities may be used to generate accurate simulated data forthe process. However, note that the above-described embodiments areexemplary only, and simulation of the modified business process may beperformed via a variety of methods. In other words, the data may be usedvia numerous ways in order to simulate actual operation of the modifiedbusiness process, e.g., for comparison to other business processes.

In 812, second information regarding one or more steps and/or flow pathsin the modified business process may be determined. Similar to above,the second information may be determined by analyzing data resultingfrom the simulation in 810. For example, in embodiments where thesimulation produces data, e.g., data similar to the data stored in 802,the processes described in 806 may be used. However, in alternateembodiments, other determination/analysis steps may be performed todetermine the second information. The second information may indicateinformation regarding lengths of time associated with steps in theprocess (e.g., waiting time, execution time, path traversal time, etc.),business costs (e.g., monetary or human resources), deviations from the“happy” or ideal path in the process, and/or various other attributes orcharacteristics associated with each of the steps and/or flow paths inthe process. For example, the second information may indicate theaverage time required for each of the steps in the process, amongothers.

In 814, the first and second information may be compared to determinedifferences in characteristics of steps and/or flow paths in the firstbusiness process and the modified business process. In some embodiments,the comparison may be performed in response to user input, e.g.,specifying characteristics to be determined. However, comparing thefirst and second information may be performed exhaustively in order toallow for any future comparisons without further recalculations. Invarious embodiments, the degree of the comparison between the first andsecond information may vary from as little as needed for displaying (asin 816) or exhaustive. The comparison of the first and secondinformation may include comparing wait time, execution time, businesscosts, traversal time, number of times a path was traversed, and/orother characteristics for individual steps/flow paths in the process.Thus, the comparison of the first and second information may revealdifferences (e.g., benefits) between the business process and themodified business process.

In 816, graphical indications associated with icons and/or lines in themodified diagram may be displayed. The graphical indications mayindicate differences in characteristics of corresponding steps and/orflow paths in the first business process and the modified businessprocess. In some embodiments, the specific differences being visuallyindicated may be specified by the user. For example, the user may selecta “time analysis” in order to view graphical indications of averagelengths of times associated with each of the steps/paths in the process.Other characteristics may be selected and visually indicated, asdesired. In some embodiments, the displayed characteristics may beautomatically chosen, e.g., by the diagram, or the developmentenvironment for modifying the diagram. For example, the characteristicsmay be automatically determined by analyzing which values orcharacteristics changed from the business process to the modifiedbusiness process. More specifically, if the only characteristics thatchanged involved average lengths of time, those characteristics may beautomatically compared and/or visually indicated in the diagram withoutreceiving user input choosing those characteristics. In someembodiments, the characteristics may be automatically ranked (e.g.,according to which values/characteristics changed the most from thefirst business process to the modified business process) and the topranked characteristics may be visually indicated to the user. Thus, thevisually indicated characteristics may be chosen and displayed via avariety of methods.

Similar to above, the graphical indications may include colorenhancements, e.g., using degree of color, possibly around the perimeterof the objects in the diagram, and/or other indications. The graphicalindications may include displaying a “heat map” on the diagram, e.g.,using at least one color. For example, the diagram may indicate stepswhere the modified business process exhibited more or less of thecharacteristic(s) in question. For examples, a first color (e.g., red)may be used to indicate a less desirable amount of characteristic, and asecond color (e.g., blue) may be used to indicate a more desirableamount of characteristic. Thus, where length of time is being visuallyindicated, if an individual step of the modified business process has alower average time associated with it, its icon in the diagram may beindicated with blue. Alternatively, if the modified business processstep has a longer average time associated with it, its icon may beindicated with red. Similar to above, the degree to which thecharacteristic varies from the first business process to the modifiedbusiness process may be indicated with a degree of color. Thus, thosesteps that indicate more of a change in characteristic may have a darkercolor than those that have a lesser change in characteristic. Similar toabove, the graphical indications may indicate relative differences amongthe steps and/or flow paths in the process and/or may indicatedifferences from the steps and/or flow paths to threshold(s).

Note that modifying the diagram and simulating the resulting change maybe referred to as a “what-if” scenario. In other words, thismodification, simulation, and comparison allows the user to viewpossible changes had the process been performed differently. Thus, theuser may easily discover the answer to possible optimizations bycalculating these “what-if” scenarios, thereby allowing the user toeasily determine which modifications would have resulted (and thereforeshould result) in a more efficient process).

FIG. 8A—Exemplary Method for Guided Optimization of a Business Process

FIG. 8A is a flowchart of an exemplary method for displaying informationregarding modifications to a business process similar to FIG. 8 above.Note that FIG. 8A provides a specific embodiment of the method only; inother words, the guided optimization described herein is not limited toany of the specific methods or descriptions provided in FIG. 8A. Similarto above, the method shown in FIG. 8A may be used in conjunction withany of the computer systems or devices shown in the above Figures, amongother devices. In various embodiments, some of the method elements shownmay be performed concurrently, in a different order than shown, or maybe omitted. Additional method elements may also be performed as desired.

FIGS. 9A and 9B—Exemplary Screen Shots

FIGS. 9A and 9B are exemplary screen shots of the method illustrated inFIG. 8. More specifically, FIGS. 9A and 9B are two exemplary screenshots which show how a user may modify a business process diagram andcompare the results. It should be noted that these screen shots areexemplary only and other lay outs, options, and/or graphical indications(among others) are envisioned.

FIG. 9A illustrates an exemplary diagram before user modification. Inthis case the diagram visually indicates an original business process.FIG. 9B illustrates a modification made to the Figure, e.g., manually bythe user, or automatically, possibly using the optimization wizarddescribed in more detail below. As shown, the diagram of FIG. 9Bincludes graphical indications that compare the original process and themodified process. In this case, the average wait time of the managerapproval decreased 44.1% and the average wait time for “select vendorquote” decreased 91%. In this screen shot the corresponding colorindications (in blue) visually indicate these differences (illustratedin FIG. 9B using black and outlined in black to indicate degree of bluein the screen shot). Thus, FIGS. 9A and 9B illustrate an exemplarymodification and resulting graphical indications indicating differencesin characteristics (in this case average wait time) for the originalbusiness process and the modified business process.

FIG. 10—Method for Comparing Data Regarding Different Data Sets

FIG. 10 illustrates a method for displaying information regardingdifferent data sets related to a business process. The method shown inFIG. 10 may be used in conjunction with any of the computer systems ordevices shown in the above Figures, among other devices. In variousembodiments, some of the method elements shown may be performedconcurrently, in a different order than shown, or may be omitted.Additional method elements may also be performed as desired. As shown,this method may operate as follows.

In 1002, first data regarding a business process may be stored/received.The first data may include historical data, simulation data, and/orother data related to the business process. Similar to descriptionsabove, the data may be received from data stored during execution of adiagram representing a business process. Alternatively, or additionally,the data may be retrieved from external sources such as a database whichstores information of the business process. The data may includeinformation regarding the various characteristics described above, amongothers. Additionally, the data may be retrieved from a time period. Asdescribed above, the first data may be received in response to userinput, e.g., defining various filters and constraints for the data.Thus, in one embodiment, the user may specify that the first data may bereceived based on various criteria, e.g., to define a query that may beexecuted to return the desired information.

In 1004, second data regarding the business process may bestored/received. Similar to above, the second data may include portionsof historical information, simulation information, and/or otherinformation related to the business process. In one embodiment, thefirst data and the second data may both be received from a same store ofinformation (e.g., historical information). Alternatively, oradditionally, the second data may be received from simulated data, e.g.,from a different process, similar to descriptions above regarding FIGS.8 and 9. However, the second data is not limited to the types of datadescribed above, and may be any type of data regarding the businessprocess. In other words, the second data may be any type of data thatmay be usable to compare to the first data, e.g., to analyze/optimizethe business process. Similar to above, the second data may includeinformation regarding various ones of the characteristics describedabove, among others. Additionally, as described above, the second datamay be received in response to user input, e.g., defining constraintsfor the second data from a larger pool of data. However, the first dataand second data may also be received automatically.

In some embodiments, the first data may involve data from a first timeperiod, and the second data may involve data from a second time period.For example, the first data may be data for the process in, for example,the month of April, while the second data may be data regarding theprocess in the month of June. Thus, in some embodiments, the first datamay be from a first time period and the second data may be from a secondtime period.

Alternatively, or additionally, the first data and/or the second datamay be filtered according to other characteristics. For example,following the examples above where the business process relates topurchase orders, the first data may relate to orders over 35,000 dollarswhereas the second data may relate to orders under 1,000 dollars. Insome embodiments, as indicated above, the data may relate to actual dataof the business process, and the second data may be simulated data,e.g., of a modified business process, similar to descriptions aboveregarding FIG. 8. Thus, the first data and the second data may bereceived from different sources and subject to different criteria, asdesired.

In 1006, the first data and the second data may be compared to determinedifferences regarding (user specified) characteristics of one or moresteps and/or flow paths in the business process. In some embodiments,comparing the first data and the second data may involve analyzing thefirst data and the second data and comparing the results of theanalysis. Similar to descriptions above, analyzing the first data and/orthe second data may involve calculating averages or inferring variouscharacteristics (such as those described above, among others) in orderto analyze the differences between the data. Thus, comparing the datamay involve calculating values to be compared for the first data and thesecond data.

In some embodiments, comparing the data and the second data may involvecomparing the characteristics described above. For example, the lengthsof times associated with individual steps may be compared between thoseof the first data and the second data. Following the example above wherethe first data is from a first period of the business process and thesecond data is from a second period of the business process, thecomparison may be usable to compare the differences in operation of thebusiness process between two different time periods.

In 1008, a diagram of the business process may be displayed, e.g., on adisplay of a computer system such as those described above, amongothers. The diagram may include a plurality of interconnected iconswhere the icons represent steps in the business process and the linesindicate flow paths of the process. The diagram may include graphicalindications which visually indicate differences regardingcharacteristics of steps and/or flow paths in the business process,e.g., based on the comparison performed in 1006. The graphicalindications may be presented similar to those described above regardingFIGS. 3-9. For example, the characteristics of the first data (e.g., forthe individual steps and/or flow paths of the business process) may becompared to the characteristics of the second data and visuallyindicated on the diagram, e.g., using color enhancements, gradients ofcolor, etc. Similar to above, the degree of characteristics may beindicated by gradients of color or by multiple colors. For example, redmay be used to indicate a negative deviation from the first data whileblue may indicate a positive deviation from the first data. Thus, somecolor enhancements may indicate better behavior/performance usingcharacteristic(s) as a meter and other color enhancements may indicateworser behavior/performance. Following the length of time examples fromdifferent time periods (above), blue color enhancements, e.g., aroundthe perimeter of various icons and/or lines, may indicate that less timewas required on average for those respective steps/paths (e.g., ascompared from the time period of the second data to the time period ofthe first data), and red color enhancements may indicate that more timewas required on average. Thus, the diagram may be displayed and mayvisually indicate differences between the first data regarding thebusiness process and the second data regarding the business process. Thegraphical indications may be used to analyze the business process.

FIGS. 11A-11D—Exemplary Screen Shots

FIGS. 11A-11D are exemplary screen shots of the method illustrated inFIG. 10. More specifically, FIGS. 11A-11D are exemplary screen shotswhich show how a user may compare different data sets related to abusiness process in a diagram. It should be noted that these screenshots are exemplary only and other lay outs, options, and/or graphicalindications (among others) are envisioned.

As shown in FIG. 11A, the user may select “Historical vs. Historical” inthe mode section of the GUI on the left side. In FIG. 11B, the user mayselect a scenario. As shown in FIG. 11C, the user has selected “Vendor:Majestic” for scenario A and “Vendor: Acme” for scenario B.

As shown in FIG. 11D, after pressing “recalculate” in the left hand GUI,the graphical indications may indicate the comparison between the chosenscenario A (Majestic) and scenario B (Acme). Similar to the descriptionsabove regarding FIGS. 8-10, the color indications (in this case, blueindicating that scenario A has a lower average wait time and redindicating scenario A has a higher average) visually indicate that“select vendor quote”, “review RFQ”, and “create RFQ” all have loweraverage wait times for scenario A than scenario B. Thus, FIGS. 11A-11Dare exemplary screen shots which show how a user may compare differentdata sets related to a business process in a diagram.

FIG. 12—Method for Displaying Information Regarding a Business Process

FIG. 12 illustrates a method for displaying information regarding abusiness process. More specifically, the method of FIG. 12 allows theuser to specify and view different time portions regarding historicalinformation of a business process. The method shown in FIG. 12 may beused in conjunction with any of the computer systems or devices shown inthe above Figures, among other devices. In various embodiments, some ofthe method elements shown may be performed concurrently, in a differentorder than shown, or may be omitted. Additional method elements may alsobe performed as desired. As shown, this method may operate as follows.

In 1202, historical data regarding a business process from a time rangemay be stored. As described above (regarding FIG. 3), the historicaldata may be received in response to executing a diagram of the businessprocess. Alternatively, the historical data may be retrieved fromexternal sources and stored in a memory medium. The historical data mayinclude information regarding lengths of time (e.g., associated witheach of the steps in the process), path traversals (e.g., the specificpath that was taken throughout the process), values (business data) ofattributes of the steps/paths taken during the process (e.g.,waiting/execution activities, number of times path was taken, etc.),count information, and/or other information. As also described above,the historical data may be received in response to user input. Asindicated above, the user may specify constraints such that thehistorical data represents only a portion of the data that may bestored, e.g., in a database on a memory medium coupled to, for example,the server 100. Alternatively, the historical data may be receivedautomatically and may not have been constrained by the user.

The historical data from the time period may include the entirety of thehistorical data for the business process (i.e., over the time range) orsome portion thereof, e.g., as specified by a user. In other words, thetime period may include any time period from which the historical datacan be received. Receiving the historical data from the time period mayresult in allowing the user to specify any portion of the time periodwithout requiring retrieval of more information, e.g., from a database.Thus, the historical data may be received from the time period in orderto allow a more efficient user interaction (described in more detailbelow).

In 1204, a diagram of the business process may be displayed, e.g., on adisplay of the computer systems described above, among others. Similarto the above descriptions regarding FIG. 3, the diagram may be displayedin response to user input. The diagram may include a plurality of icons(e.g., representing steps of the process) that are interconnected bylines (e.g., representing flow paths of the process). As also describedabove, the diagram may be executable; in other words, the diagram mayoperate to implement the process visually indicated by the diagramduring execution of the diagram. In some embodiments, the user mayinvoke execution of the diagram by pressing an “execute” or “play”button in the process development environment that may display thediagram. During execution, processes, GUIs, and/or applets (amongothers) may be invoked as execution flows through each of the icons andlines in the diagram. In other words, upon reaching a specific icon orline during execution of the diagram, processes associated with the iconor line may be executed, e.g., as designed by the user. In someembodiments, these processes may be executed locally or remotely (e.g.,on a computer coupled through a network such as the network 125described above, among others. The diagram may include lanes whichindicate performers of the steps of the process. For example, thediagram may include a lane for a computer system such as, for example,the server 100. Correspondingly, the server 100 may perform the stepsassociated with icons placed in this lane during execution of thediagram.

In 1206, the historical data may be analyzed to determine informationregarding steps and/or flow paths in the business process. In someembodiments, the analysis may include receiving/storing a portion of thehistorical data stored in 1202. The analysis of the historical data (orportion thereof) in 1206 may be similar to the analysis described abovein 306 of FIG. 3. In some embodiments, similar to above, the analysismay involve averaging data or inferring information from the historicaldata, e.g., via calculations. In some embodiments, the historical datamay be analyzed to determine the values of the characteristics describedabove (among others) associated with a subset of the steps and/or flowpaths of the business process (represented by the icons and/or lines inthe diagram).

Similar to above, the historical data may be analyzed over a pluralityof characteristics and time sub-periods of the time period in order toallow the user to specify any sub-portion of the time period withoutrequiring recalculations (e.g., retrieval of more data and/or moreanalysis of the historical data).

In 1208, user input selecting a first sub-period of the time portion maybe received. The user input selecting the first sub-period of time maybe received via a plurality of methods. For example, in one embodiment,the user may simply specify a sub-time period textually, e.g., usingvarious text boxes in the diagram development environment.Alternatively, or additionally, the user may manipulate a graphicaltimeline, e.g., using one or more sliders on the timeline. For example,the user may slide the slider on the timeline (e.g., by dragging anddropping the slider on the timeline) and may thereby select a firstsub-period of time. Where one slider is used, the diagram developmentenvironment (or other interface to the diagram) may infer or use adefault value for the sub-time period around that selected time. Morespecifically, adjusting the single slider may pinpoint a particular timeor may actually correspond to an average time around that particulartime. Thus, in one embodiment, the interface to the diagram mayautomatically assign a range of times in response to the user selectinga single sub-period of time in the time period. In some embodiments,this may be performed by using a default value or by using a percentageof the entire time period. Alternatively, where there are two sliders onthe timeline, the time sub-period may be decided based on the positionof the two sliders. For example, a first slider may indicate a first endpoint of the time period and a second slider may indicate a second endpoint of the time period. Note that the above described embodiments forspecifying the first time sub-period are exemplary only and that othermethods are envisioned. Additionally, in one embodiment, the user maysimply hit a “play” button which begins playback from a specified timesub-period (or a default time period) in the time period.

In 1210, graphical indications may be displayed regardingcharacteristics of steps and/or flow paths in the business processduring the first sub-period of the time period. The graphicalindications may be similar to the graphical indications described aboveregarding FIG. 3. For example, the graphical indications may includecolor enhancements, e.g., using gradients of colors around theperimeters of the icons and/or lines in the diagram. Thus, graphicalindications may be displayed in the diagram which visually indicatecharacteristics of steps and/or flow paths in the business process. Thegraphical indications may be usable to analyze the process during thefirst sub-period of the time period. Note that the graphical indicationsmay be displayed in real time. In other words, in some embodiments, theuser may specify the time sub-period, e.g., using the methods describedabove, among others, and the graphical indications may be displayedsubstantially at the same time.

In some embodiments 1208 and 1210 (and possibly 1206) may be performed aplurality of times, e.g., to view changes in the characteristics of thebusiness process over time. In some embodiments, performing 1208 and1210 a plurality of times may not require receiving more data oranalyzing the historical data. In other words, the user changing thespecified time sub-period in the time period may result in graphicalindications being displayed in the diagram without a substantial waittime, e.g., occurring “live”. As a specific example, the user may beable to simply drag a slider in the graphical timeline and the diagrammay be updated in real time in response to the movement of the slider.As indicated above, in one embodiment, the user may simply press a“play” button and the slider may move along the timeline.Correspondingly, the graphical indications may appear and change in ananimated fashion. The graphical timeline may include other controls suchas a stop, rewind, fast forward, and/or pause buttons.

Note that the embodiments described above with regard to historical datamay be performed with simulated data. For example, the graphicaltimeline may be used with simulated data of a business process insteadof or in conjunction with the historical data received in 1202.

Additionally, similar to above, in some embodiments, the user may beable to select two different time sub-periods in the time period, e.g.,using a one or two graphical timeliness For example, in one embodiment,the user may load two different scenarios, e.g., corresponding todifferent filters (e.g., time periods, vendor names, price range, etc.)of the business process, and two graphical timelines may be displayedfor the different scenarios. In this example, the user may manipulatethe timelines independently, and the diagram may include graphicalindications indicating the differences of steps and/or flow paths in thediagram (similar to the graphical indications described above withregard to FIGS. 8-11).

FIGS. 13A-13J—Exemplary Screen Shots

FIGS. 13A-13J are exemplary screen shots of the method illustrated inFIG. 12. More specifically, FIGS. 13A-13J are exemplary screen shotswhich show how a user may specify and view different time portionsregarding historical information of a business process. It should benoted that these screen shots are exemplary only and other lay outs,options, and/or graphical indications (among others) are envisioned.

As shown in FIG. 13A, a graphical timeline is displayed in the topportion of the GUI. As described above, the user may drag the slider inthe graphical timeline or may use the transport in the Figure (includingthe rewind, pause, play, and fast forward buttons) to view changes inthe path analysis over time. In this particular instance, the user hasselected play. Note that the user could alternatively manually changethe graphical timeline to achieve similar results. Thus, in the firsttime frame (May 28, 2006, 12:00 AM) no path has followed an exceptionpathway.

As shown in FIG. 13B, at +9 days, 12 hour, and 28 minutes, no exceptionpath is visually indicated, indicating that no path has followed anexception pathway.

As shown in FIG. 13C, at +17 days, 20 hours, 24 minutes, the exceptionpathway between “approved?” and “select vendor quote” has been followed33% and is indicated in a pink highlight in the screen shot (shown as anoutlined black in the Figure).

As shown in FIG. 13D, at +23 days, 19 hours, and 12 minutes, theexception pathway between “approved?” and “select vendor quote” has beenfollowed 45% and is indicated in a dark red highlight in the screen shot(shown as an shaded black in the Figure).

As shown in FIG. 13E, at +32 days, 3 hours, and 7 minutes, the exceptionpathway between “approved?” and “select vendor quote” has been followed40% and is indicated in a dark red highlight in the screen shot (shownas an shaded black in the Figure).

As shown in FIG. 13F, at +39 days, 6 hours, and 28 minutes, theexception pathway between “approved?” and “select vendor quote” has beenfollowed 42% and is indicated in a dark red highlight in the screen shot(shown as an shaded black in the Figure).

As shown in FIG. 13G, at +47 days, 14 hours, and 24 minutes, theexception pathway between “approved?” and “select vendor quote” has beenfollowed 44% and is indicated in a dark red highlight in the screen shot(shown as an shaded black in the Figure).

As shown in FIG. 13H, at +61 days, 21 hours, and 7 minutes, theexception pathway between “approved?” and “select vendor quote” has beenfollowed 47% and is indicated in a dark red highlight in the screen shot(shown as an shaded black in the Figure).

As shown in FIG. 13I, at +96 days, 9 hours, and 21 minutes, theexception pathway between “approved?” and “select vendor quote” has beenfollowed 44% and is indicated in a dark red highlight in the screen shot(shown as an shaded black in the Figure).

As shown in FIG. 13J, at +117 days, 19 hours, and 26 minutes, theexception pathway between “approved?” and “select vendor quote” has beenfollowed 45% and is indicated in a dark red highlight in the screen shot(shown as an shaded black in the Figure).

Thus, FIGS. 13A-13J illustrate one embodiment of a method which allows auser to specify and view different time portions regarding historicalinformation of a business process.

FIG. 14—Method for Guided Optimization of a Business Process

FIG. 14 illustrates a method for guided optimization of a businessprocess. More specifically, the method of FIG. 14 allows the user tooptimize a business process. FIG. 14 may provide one embodiment usableto modify the diagram in response to user input. Said another way, themethod of FIG. 14 may be used in conjunction with 808 of the methodillustrated in FIG. 8. The method shown in FIG. 14 may be used inconjunction with any of the computer systems or devices shown in theabove Figures, among other devices. In various embodiments, some of themethod elements shown may be performed concurrently, in a differentorder than shown, or may be omitted. Additional method elements may alsobe performed as desired. As shown, this method may operate as follows.

In 1404, historical data from the business process may bereceived/stored. As described above (regarding FIG. 3), the historicaldata may be stored in response to executing the diagram displayed in1402. Alternatively, the historical data may be retrieved from externalsources and stored in a memory medium. The historical data may includeinformation regarding lengths of time (e.g., associated with each of thesteps in the process), path traversals (e.g., the specific path that wastaken throughout the process), values (business information) ofattributes of the steps/paths taken during the process (e.g.,waiting/execution activities, number of times path was taken, etc.),count information, and/or other information. As also described above,the historical data may be received in response to user input. Asindicated above, the user may specify constraints such that thehistorical data represents only a portion of the data that may bestored, e.g., in a database on a memory medium coupled to, for example,the server 100. Alternatively, the historical data may be receivedautomatically and may not have been constrained by the user.

In 1402, a diagram of the business process may be displayed, e.g., on adisplay of one or more of the computer systems described above, amongothers. a diagram of a business process may be displayed, e.g., on adisplay of the computer systems described above, among others. Similarthe above descriptions regarding FIG. 3, the diagram may be displayed inresponse to user input. The diagram may include a plurality of icons(e.g., representing steps of the process) that are interconnected bylines (e.g., representing flow paths of the process). As also describedabove, the diagram may be executable; in other words, the diagram mayoperate to implement the process visually indicated by the diagramduring execution of the diagram. In some embodiments, the user mayinvoke execution of the diagram by pressing an “execute” or “play”button in the process development environment that may display thediagram. During execution, processes, GUIs, and/or applets (amongothers) may be invoked as execution flows through each of the icons andlines in the diagram. In other words, upon reaching a specific icon orline during execution of the diagram, processes associated with the iconor line may be executed, e.g., as designed by the user. In someembodiments, these processes may be executed locally or remotely (e.g.,on a computer coupled through a network such as the network 125described above, among others. The diagram may include lanes whichindicate performers of the steps of the process. For example, thediagram may include a lane for a computer system such as, for example,the server 100. Correspondingly, the server 100 may perform the stepsassociated with icons placed in this lane during execution of thediagram.

In 1406, the historical data may be analyzed to determine informationregarding one or more steps and/or flow paths in the business process.The analysis of the historical data in 1406 may be similar to theanalysis described above in 306 of FIG. 3. For example, the analysis mayinclude receiving/storing a portion of the historical data stored in1402. Additionally, in some embodiments, similar to above, the analysismay involve averaging data or inferring information from the historicaldata, e.g., via calculations. In some embodiments, the historical datamay be analyzed to determine the values of the characteristics describedabove (among others) associated with a subset of the steps and/or flowpaths of the business process (represented by the icons and/or lines inthe diagram).

Analyzing the historical data may include building a decision tree basedon the historical data. For example, each step and/or flow path in theprocess may have associated data in the historical data. Thisinformation may be separated and fed into a decision tree builder whichmay analyze information in the historical data regarding that particularstep/flow path. Upon passing this parsed/analyzed information into thedecision tree builder, a decision tree may be made. In some embodiments,the decision tree may include a plurality of nodes, and each node in thedecision tree may represent a question that can be asked of a set ofinput variables. Child nodes of the nodes may represent possible answersto the question and may be used to generate correlations (described inmore detail below).

In some embodiments, the analysis may include determining which steps orflow paths require optimization. In one embodiment, the analysis maydetermine the steps and/or paths that on average take the longest amountof time (or just has the highest value of time), has a high amount ofbusiness cost, and/or are most often excepted (e.g., paths which followthe exception path more than others), as well as othercharacteristics/attributes that might require optimization.

Additionally, or alternatively, the analysis may be used to displaygraphical indications similar to the methods described above. Inresponse to viewing the diagram with the graphical indications the usermay be able to select individual steps and/or paths in the process foroptimization. Thus, various (or possibly all of the) steps and/or pathsmay be selected (e.g., by the user or automatically) for optimization.

In some embodiments, an optimization GUI or series of GUIs may beexecuted, e.g., in response to user input, in order to guide the userthrough possible modifications to the diagram in order to optimize theprocess. This series of GUIs may act as a “wizard” for guiding the userthrough the optimization. An exemplary wizard is illustrated in FIGS.15A-15G and described below. In some embodiments, the wizard may allowthe user to select different types of modifications that may be analyzedand generated for the user. For example, in a first GUI of the wizard,the user may select various variables in the process that should beoptimized as well as a threshold for confidence. Confidence may refer toprobabilities associated with modifications to the process. For example,confidence may describe how often a particular rule, or step bypassmight have produced the same outcome as the historical data.

The first GUI may also allow the user to specify how complex therules/modifications to the diagram can be as well as allowing the userto select which variables should be considered for optimizing varioussteps/flow paths in the process. Upon entering this information (orportions thereof), the analysis of 1406 or a further analysis (amongothers) may be performed in order to correlate information in thehistorical process. For example, in a diagram that includes a manualstep, e.g., approval of a purchase order by a manager, the calculatedcorrelations may be used to bypass the approval step by the manager inorder to streamline the process. For example, the analysis may revealthat when purchase orders are within a given price range (e.g.,1500-2000 dollars) and are from a particular client (e.g., Wal-Mart),the purchase order is always approved. Other correlations may becalculated related to any of the information stored in the historicaldata, the analysis of the historical data, and/or the characteristics ofthe steps and/or flow paths of the process (among others).

Note that the above embodiments where the user interacts with theGUIs/wizard to optimize the process are exemplary only, and that othermethods for optimizing are envisioned. For example, the user couldinteract via textual methods, and/or various ones of the steps describedabove may be performed automatically and/or according to various defaultprocesses/values.

In 1408, a list of possible modifications may be automatically generatedand displayed. As indicated above, the list of possible modificationsmay be automatically generated and displayed in response to inputspecifying steps and/or paths in the process to be optimized.Additionally, or alternatively, the list of possible modifications maybe displayed in response to user input specifying which characteristicsand/or attributes of the steps and/or paths in the process should beoptimized, e.g., using the wizard described above. In some embodiments,the list of possible rules may be displayed after the user hasinteracted with a series of GUIs for specifying the types ofrules/optimizations that should be generated and displayed. In otherwords, the list of possible modifications may be displayed in a GUI inthe wizard.

In one embodiment, the list of possible modifications may be presentedas a list of correlations or possible rules with confidences which maythen be used to modify the diagram. For example, the list of possiblemodifications may only indicate facts (or inferred facts) regarding theprocess. More specifically, the list of possible indications mayindicate confidence of the list of possible modifications. In otherwords, the list of possible modifications may indicate what percentageof time a particular outcome resulted from a particular set of inputs.As a specific example, the modifications may list that approval of anorder occurred, for example, 84% of the time when a specific list ofconditions were met (e.g., orders over 10,000 dollars). These listedcorrelations and/or rules may then be used to modify thediagram/process, e.g., for optimization. In other words, the list ofmodifications may be a list of any type of information that may then beused to modify/optimize the diagram, e.g., using the methods describedherein. For example, the correlations may be used to bypass a particularstep by using a rule derived from the correlation.

Following the example above where analyzing the historical data includesbuilding a decision tree. A decision tree may be used to examine datapoints (more specifically, input and output data points) and findcorrelations between the input values and the output values. Thedecision tree may then be used to predict future outputs based on theirinputs (e.g., even if the particular combination of inputs have not beenencountered or if the same set of inputs have led to different outputs).Thus, in some embodiments, generating the list of possible modifications(e.g., rules) may involve combining the parent nodes (representingquestions) and the child nodes (representing answers) in the decisiontree in order to make rules that may be used to modify the diagram. Thecorrectness percentage of each child node may become the confidenceassociated with the generated rules, and thus the “visited percentage”(the percentage of the input data points that followed the particularpath) may become the probability of the listed rules. In someembodiments, if the percentage is less than a threshold value (e.g.,specified by the user), the rules with that percentage may be dropped(e.g., not displayed to the user). During 1408 (or possibly later in1410) the rules may be converted to diagram logic, usable to modify thediagram to implement the suggested rules. Thus, the list of possiblemodifications may include rules that may be used to modify the diagram.

In 1410, user input selecting one or more modifications from the list ofpossible modifications may be received. In some embodiments, the usermay simply click on the modifications that should be implemented in thediagram. For example, the user may “check” check boxes for rules thatshould be implemented and leave check boxes blank for those that theuser does not want implemented in the diagram.

In one embodiment, the user may be able to preview modifications to thediagram, e.g., by clicking a “preview” button. In response to this userinput (or other equivalent input), the diagram (or a portion thereof)may be displayed with the possible modification. In some embodiments,the possible modification may be visually indicated in the diagram via avariety of methods, e.g., using colors, animation, and/or otherindications such as those described above among others. The user may usethis preview button to decide which modifications of the list ofpossible modifications should be made.

In 1412, the diagram may be modified based on the selected rule(s). Insome embodiments, the diagram may be modified automatically, e.g.,without any further user input other than 1410. The automaticmodification(s) may also be made with confirmation by the user; however,automatic modification(s) of the diagram may not require the user tomanually add or change icons and/or lines in the diagram. For example,the method may allow the user to preview the modifications in thediagram (as described above) and then may automatically make themodifications in response to user input confirming or selecting thedisplayed modification.

FIG. 14A—Exemplary Method for Guided Optimization of a Business Process

FIG. 14A is a flow chart of an exemplary method for guided optimizationof a business process similar to FIG. 14 above. Note that FIG. 14Aprovides a specific embodiment of the method only; in other words, theguided optimization described herein is not limited to any of thespecific methods or descriptions provided in FIG. 14A. Similar to above,the method shown in FIG. 14A may be used in conjunction with any of thecomputer systems or devices shown in the above Figures, among otherdevices. In various embodiments, some of the method elements shown maybe performed concurrently, in a different order than shown, or may beomitted. Additional method elements may also be performed as desired.

FIGS. 15A-15G—Exemplary Screen Shots

FIGS. 15A-15G are exemplary screen shots of the method illustrated inFIG. 14. More specifically, FIGS. 15A-15G are two exemplary screen shotswhich show how a user may specify and view different time portionsregarding historical information of a business process. It should benoted that these screen shots are exemplary only and other lay outs,options, and/or graphical indications (among others) are envisioned.

As shown in FIG. 15A, the user may select an icon in the diagram(associated with the manager approval step of the process) and mayselect an impact analysis, e.g., by clicking the manager approval icon(in this specific case, by right-clicking the icon).

As shown in FIG. 15B, in response to the user selecting the impactanalysis, a list of recommendations may appear in the lower right handGUI of the screen. More specifically, the manager approvalrecommendation may be highlighted since the user selected thatparticular icon in the diagram. Accordingly, the user may invoke theoptimization wizard by clicking the “launch bypass wizard” located inthe bottom-right portion of the GUI.

As shown, FIG. 15C, in response to the user selecting the “launch bypasswizard” button, the “Guided Optimization Wizard” may be launched. In thefirst GUI of this wizard the user may select which variable to predict(in this case “status”).

As shown in FIG. 15D, the user may choose the complexity of the list ofrules/modifications to be displayed. In this case the user has selectedhigh (5) complexity. The user may also choose which confidence and whichvariables to consider. In this screen shot, the user has selected mediumconfidence (meaning that the list of possible modifications may onlyinclude those with confidence greater than 70%) and has selected all ofthe variable for consideration.

As shown in FIG. 15E, in response to the user clicking the “next” buttonin the previous Figure, a list of possible modifications may bedisplayed. In this particular GUI, the list of possible modificationsare presented as a list of correlations. A first category (at the top)relates to when the status variable (selected in FIG. 15C) was set to“approve” and a second category relates to when the status variable wasset to “reject”. For example, the status variable was set to approve 78%of the time when the price variable was less than the value 9,872. Thisinformation may have been gathered/determined from historical data(e.g., similar to the methods described above). As shown, the user canfinish and view the detailed report (by selecting the appropriate radiobutton) or, as is shown, continue and bypass activity.

As shown in FIG. 15F, after use selects the “next” button in theprevious Figure, the user may select the modifications that may be madeto the diagram. In this case, the user may select a set of rules thatmay be used for bypassing the manager approval step. The user may createthis modification with the “rules service” or the “script activities”.Additionally, the user can create a new scenario name for the modifieddiagram that is about to be made. Finally, the user can allow theoptimization wizard to pre-configure the what-if analysis by checkingthe check box in the bottom portion of the GUI.

As shown in FIG. 15G, in response to finishing the guided optimizationwizard described above, the diagram may be automatically modified toinclude an approval bypass rule for bypassing the manager approval step.As shown, the diagram may modify the graphical indications to indicatethe change in average wait time (from 17 days to 10 days, a 44.1%improvement).

Thus, FIGS. 15A-15G illustrate one embodiment of the guided optimizationwizard, automatic modification of the diagram, and comparison of themodified diagram to the previous diagram using a “what-if” scenario.

Although the embodiments above have been described in considerabledetail, numerous variations and modifications will become apparent tothose skilled in the art once the above disclosure is fully appreciated.It is intended that the following claims be interpreted to embrace allsuch variations and modifications.

1. A memory medium comprising program instructions for automaticallygenerating and displaying a list of possible modifications to a diagramof a business process, wherein the program instructions are executableby a computer to: store historical data regarding the business process;display a diagram of the business process on a display, wherein thediagram comprises a plurality of icons connected by lines, wherein eachof the icons represents a respective step in the business process,wherein the lines indicate flow paths between the steps in the businessprocess; analyze the historical data to determine first informationregarding one or more steps and/or flow paths in the business process;and automatically generate and display a list of possible modificationsto the diagram based on said analyzing the historical data, wherein saidautomatically generating and displaying the list of possiblemodifications comprises displaying respective confidence associated witheach modification of the list of possible modifications, and saidconfidence associated with each modification comprises a percentage ofaccuracy for the modification with regard to the historical data.
 2. Thememory medium of claim 1, wherein the program instructions are furtherexecutable to: receive user input selecting one or more modificationsfrom the list of possible modifications; and modify the diagram based onthe selected one or more modifications.
 3. The memory medium of claim 2,wherein the program instructions are further executable to automaticallymodify the diagram, wherein said automatically modifying the diagramcomprises adding or modifying icons and/or lines in the diagram withoutreceiving user input specifying said adding or modifying icons and/orlines in the diagram.
 4. The memory medium of claim 1, wherein theprogram instructions are further executable to: receive user input toselect types of modifications; wherein said automatically generating anddisplaying the list of possible modifications is performed based on theuser input selecting the types of modifications.
 5. The memory medium ofclaim 1, wherein the program instructions are further executable to:display the diagram with one or more proposed modifications from thelist of possible modifications.
 6. The memory medium of claim 1, whereinthe list of possible modifications are usable to optimize the businessprocess.
 7. The memory medium of claim 1, wherein the list of possiblemodifications are usable to bypass one or more of the steps of thebusiness process.
 8. The memory medium of claim 1, wherein the programinstructions are further executable to: receive user input selecting oneor more icons in the diagram, wherein the selected one or more icons areassociated with one or more respective steps of the business process;wherein the list of possible modifications are associated with the oneor more respective steps of the business process.
 9. Acomputer-implemented method for automatically generating and displayinga list of possible modifications to a diagram of a business process,comprising: storing historical data regarding the business process;displaying a diagram of the business process on a display, wherein thediagram comprises a plurality of icons connected by lines, wherein eachof the icons represents a respective step in the business process,wherein the lines indicate flow paths between the steps in the businessprocess; analyzing the historical data to determine first informationregarding one or more steps and/or flow paths in the business process;and using a computer for automatically generating and displaying a listof possible modifications to the diagram based on said analyzing thehistorical data; wherein said automatically generating and displayingthe list of possible modifications comprises displaying respectiveconfidence associated with each modification of the list of possiblemodifications, and said confidence associated with each modificationcomprises a percentage of accuracy for the modification with regard tothe historical data.
 10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:receiving user input selecting one or more modifications from the listof possible modifications; and modifying the diagram based on theselected one or more modifications.
 11. The method of claim 10, furthercomprising automatically modifying the diagram, wherein saidautomatically modifying the diagram comprises adding or modifying iconsand/or lines in the diagram without receiving user input specifying saidadding or modifying icons and/or lines in the diagram.
 12. The method ofclaim 9, further comprising: receiving user input to select types ofmodifications; wherein said automatically generating and displaying thelist of possible modifications is performed based on the user inputselecting the types of modifications.
 13. The method of claim 9, whereinthe list of possible modifications are usable to optimize the businessprocess.
 14. A system for automatically generating and displaying a listof possible modifications to a diagram of a business process,comprising: a processor; a memory medium coupled to the processor; adisplay coupled to the memory medium and the processor, wherein thedisplay is operable to display a diagram of a business process, whereinthe diagram comprises a plurality of icons connected by lines, whereineach of the icons represents a respective step in the business process,wherein the lines indicate flow paths between the steps in the businessprocess; wherein the memory medium stores historical data regarding thebusiness process; wherein the memory medium stores program instructionsexecutable by the processor to: analyze the historical data to determinefirst information regarding one or more steps and/or flow paths in thebusiness process; automatically generate and display a list of possiblemodifications to the diagram based on said analyzing the historical datawherein said automatically generating and displaying the list ofpossible modifications comprises displaying respective confidenceassociated with each modification of the list of possible modifications,and said confidence associated with each modification comprises apercentage of accuracy for the modification with regard to thehistorical data.
 15. The system of claim 14, wherein the programinstructions are further executable to: receive user input selecting oneor more modifications from the list of possible modifications; andmodify the diagram based on the selected one or more modifications. 16.The system of claim 15, wherein said modifying the diagram comprisesautomatically modifying the diagram, wherein said automaticallymodifying the diagram comprises adding or modifying icons and/or linesin the diagram without receiving user input specifying said adding ormodifying icons and/or lines in the diagram.
 17. The system of claim 14,wherein the program instructions are further executable to: receive userinput to select types of modifications; wherein said automaticallygenerating and displaying the list of possible modifications isperformed based on the user input selecting the types of modifications.